Why Do Cats and Dogs Drink Water So Differently, Anyway?

Photo Gallery

Cats rule, dogs drool – at least when it comes to drinking water! Researchers use fluid dynamics (and awesome slow-mo video) to find the science behind why cats and dogs drink the way they do.

Anyone who’s ever witnessed a cat or dog drinking water knows there’s a BIG difference in technique involved. Why do cats seem so elegant and graceful when they drink? And why are dogs SO messy?!

That’s just what researchers at Virginia Tech and Purdue Universities wanted to figure out, so they conducted a cool little study to find out why.

Check out the video below to see what they found, along with some super-cool slow-mo visuals of what it looks like ‘up close and personal’ when cats and dogs need to quench their thirst.

(You probably won’t be surprised to learn that dogs basically use their tongues as a gigantic water shovel to toss the water up into their mouths – hence the swimming pool that almost always seems to surround their water dishes!)

We use cookies to improve your experience on this website and so that ads you see online can be tailored to your online browsing interests.
We use data about you for a number of purposes explained in the links below. By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of data and cookies.
Tell me more |
Cookie Preferences